In the first half of 2013, AT&T invested more than $175 million in its wireless and wired networks in Tennessee. The investments included deployment of new macro cell sites, small cells and Distributed Antenna Systems across the state as a part of AT&T's Project Velocity IP, a three-year investment plan announced last fall to expand and enhance its IP broadband networks. The company also expanded and enhanced its 4G LTE network, which provides ultra-fast mobile Internet speeds, and deployed new Wi-Fi hot spots.

Project Velocity IP is also spurring the deployment of advanced fiber-optic connections to thousands of Tennessee businesses. In just the first six months of 2013, nearly 325 additional business customer locations in Tennessee– located in nine multi-tenant office buildings across the state – now have access to blazing-fast, reliable connections to Internet and cloud-based resources, which ride on the fiber network.

As part of Project VIP, AT&T also deployed advanced wired IP broadband connections for consumers, including AT&T U-verse® services for 13,600 customer locations in Tennessee in just the first six months of 2013. AT&T U-verse is an integrated bundle of services delivered over AT&T's advanced IP network that include AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet, AT&T U-verse TV and AT&T U-verse Voice. AT&T offers customers the freedom to watch hit TV shows virtually anywhere, extensive HD channels, competitive Internet speeds, flexible bundles and continued service innovation. AT&T was recently named Frost & Sullivan Video Company of the Year.

"AT&T's network investments address the number one issue that most residents have when it comes to connectivity: The reliability and speed of their mobile device and the bandwidth availability in their home and business," said House Speaker Beth Harwell. "The expansion of mobile internet infrastructure helps to ensure Tennessee residents will be able to enjoy the full capabilities of the latest generation of applications and web services."

These investments help to ensure that Tennessee residents continue to receive the best possible experience over the AT&T network, whether at home, at work or on the go. The great performance of AT&T's 4G LTE network, now the nation's fastest and most reliable, continues to be validated:

AT&T now has the most reliable 4G LTE network. According to independent third-party data, AT&T has the highest success rate for delivering mobile content across nationwide 4G LTE networks.**

Meanwhile, our 4G LTE service was recognized as having faster average download and upload speeds than any of our competitors in PCWorld/TechHive's most recent 20-market speed tests – the second consecutive year that AT&T has ranked 1st overall. PCWorld/TechHive also ranked AT&T's as the fastest combination of 3G and 4G services in the 20 cities it tested.***

And AT&T was named America's fastest 4G LTE network in PC Magazine's 2013 Fastest Mobile Networks 30-market study – sweeping the top rankings in all six U.S. regions from coast to coast: Northeast, Southeast, North-Central, South-Central, Northwest and Southwest.****

"AT&T's network investment supports Tennessee's economic health and our residents' ability to succeed at work and at home," said Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey. "The expansion of mobile Internet service helps to ensure that people across the state have access to the latest online services and applications."

"For every dollar invested in networks by broadband providers, we can expect a tenfold impact on our broader economy," said Charles Howorth, executive director of the Tennessee Business Roundtable. "This kind of investment also helps to modernize our state's economy; opening up new avenues for commerce and introducing advanced services that businesses and consumers need. I would like to thank Lt. Governor Ramsey, Speaker Harwell and all the members of the General Assembly who are focused on incenting the infrastructure and services that will keep Tennessee moving forward."

In addition, RootMetrics® has awarded AT&T 1st or tied for 1st for strongest overall call, text, and data performance in 66 of 125 national markets – including 3 of 4 in Tennessee, where AT&T was 1st in Knoxville and Memphis and tied for 1st in Nashville – from January through June this year.*****

Highlights of network upgrades completed so far this year include completing the installation of two new 4G LTE capable Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville and St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro. Across Tennessee, AT&T's 2013 investments have resulted in expansion and enhancement of our 4G LTE network, which provides ultra-fast speeds. AT&T 4G LTE is now available in multiple areas of the state, including Chattanooga, Cleveland, Cookeville, Dyersburg-Ripley, Jackson, Knoxville, Lawrenceburg, McMinnville, Memphis, Nashville and Davidson County, including surrounding Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson Counties and the Tri-Cities areas.

"Fast, reliable connectivity is essential to both quality of life and competitiveness at work," said Joelle Phillips, president, AT&T Tennessee. "No one understands that better than we do, and no one is doing more than AT&T to mobilize a world that works for people in Tennessee. With initiatives like Project Velocity IP, we're working to ensure that Tennessee consumers and businesses remain at the leading edge of broadband services."

The 2013 year-to-date network investment builds on the nearly $1.4 billion that AT&T has invested in its Tennessee wireless and wired networks from 2010 through 2012.

Nationwide, more than 225 million Americans have access to AT&T 4G LTE service. By year-end 2013, AT&T expects to cover nearly 270 million people and 400 markets with its 4G LTE network.

For more information about AT&T's coverage in Tennessee or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.

Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T U-verse services. Call or go to www.att.com/u-verse to see if you qualify.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

***** Performance rankings based on 125 RootMetrics® RootScore® Reports, January – June 2013, of 4 national mobile networks that rely on scores calculated from random samples. Your experience may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of AT&T. Visit www.rootmetrics.com for more details.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking StatementsInformation set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update or revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.